Essay on Learning Styles Myth

It turns out that many primary and some middle and high schools in Great Britain have special learning styles approaches, dividing student into special categories according to their so-believed more developed abilities of information perception. This teaching approach states that students understand and assimilate information with the help of one, different among students, body system. This theory distinguishes students with auditory, visual and kinesthetic aptitudes in learning, suggesting thus different approaches and tasks for studying the same subject.

They claim that some students learn better when the information is visualized – graphics, diagrams or simply seeing the text (visual); or they prefer to listen to the information instead of reading it (auditory).

A Myth or a Scientifically Proofed Theory?

At the first glance it may look pretty logic: all children are different, having various interests and divers characters. It should be understandable why education process has to be modified according to the particular student qualities. Actually, this blurred logic and reasonableness of the theory ensured it prosperity for a long period of time. However, there is a trick: there has never been conducted any scientific research supporting the myth of learning styles.

Moreover, the scientific society is concerned with the harm that this mythological approach in learning can cause. The Guardian has received a letter signed by thirty neuroscience academics expressing their concern about the popularization of learning styles among teachers. Apparently, there is no data gathered or any scientific support of the theory ever presented. Matching learning styles with teaching approaches for enhancing education results is of a questionable value. In fact, our brain is capable of far more things that we do realize. Learning styles take away the possibility for the brain to adapt to other types of activities and develop new abilities. The variety of tasks and exercises develops the abilities that initially exist in each human brain.

An economic aspect is also adding fuel to the fire. Schools spend tremendous sums of money each year to support the program in classes. Scientists claim that it is an extreme waste of money and time.

This situation makes the society rethink the state of decision-making, concerning children and their education. It is clear that not only scientists but parents and teachers as well should look for a scientific support of what they are teaching children. Regardless of the features of behavior or peculiar properties of character and sensor modality students should have a chance to develop all the abilities and discover new capabilities. Undoubtedly, young students are very sensitive: the wrong attitude towards the child can get disappointed him or her from the subject. Though, as much as they are sensitive they are perceptive to new things. So let’s give the children a chance to try to develop his or her abilities in learning!

All in all, no matter who you are – a teacher or a parent try not to put the children into the society frameworks. Look at your children from a better perspective than limiting their opportunities and abilities. It may sound inhumanely towards children but stressful situations are stimulating the progress. Through coping with frustrating tasks students get new skills and gain new knowledge that will ease the following studying experience.